A car navigates debris on the road

Heavy rain overnight caused landslides and wet conditions hampered the clean-up operation.

Power was restored to hundreds of homes which were cut off on Friday morning and the road was reopened again in the afternoon.

Police said there were several landslides on the A970 between Sandwick and Cunningsburgh, leading to the closure of the only main road.

The affected stretch of road was reopened in the afternoon but was deemed too dangerous for passage during the hours of darkness and was closed again from 2000 BST until 0800 BST on Saturday.

It was just literally four or five seconds of complete madness Hugh Harrup Motorist

Northern Constabulary said anyone who urgently needed to use the road at night should contact them and that those using it at any time should do so with great care.

Hundreds of tonnes of mud and water brought down power lines, flooding a number of houses.

The landslides had isolated Sandwick but the road between it and Cunningsburgh was reopened at 1230 BST.

Police said environmental health officers were advising people in the affected areas of Sandwick, Hoswick and Levenwick to boil water for consumption for a minimum of five minutes and to avoid contact wth broken sewers and raw sewage.

Lower ground

Scottish Water was supplying bottled water for drinking at Park Wynd, Central shop and Brentfield Place, Sandwick and at Levenwick care centre.

Water for other purposes was being made available at Swinister, central cross-roads at Sandwick, Sandwick school, near Hoswick Bridge, Channerwick junction, Levenwick surgery and the Rompa junction.

Crofters and farmers worked to get their animals off the hills to lower ground during the flooding.

Motorist Hugh Harrup was almost caught in one of the landslides and described a seven metre-high torrent of water followed by a wall of mud which crossed the road in front of him.

He said: "I had to stop and reverse to get the hell out of there.

Parts of the road gave way in the flooding

"I looked in the rear view mirror as I was turning around and there was just this torrent of mud coming towards me.

"It was just incredible, there was no other word for it and there were poor animals on the hill."

Mr Harrup counted two or three sheep which had been killed.

He told BBC Scotland: "It was just literally four or five seconds of complete madness."

Northern Constabulary has appealed to residents affected by the landslides to check on vulnerable neighbours.

A spokesman said: "All persons are asked to ensure that any vulnerable or elderly neighbours are safe and well."

Police in Shetland have set up a dedicated phone line for anyone needing information about the road. The number is 01595 741 136.